Honorary graduates

Honorary graduates 2018

Jenny BrownDLitt 2018In recognition of her major contribution to literacy and the love of letters in Scotland.

Dr Rita GardnerDSc 2018In recognition of her major contribution to geographic education, her impact on the public understanding of contemporary geographical issues and her notable service to the development of the discipline of geography.

Herbert KohlerLLD 2018In recognition of his major contribution to business.

Paul LawrieLLD 2018In recognition of his accomplishments as a champion golfer, with a distinguished and decorated career representing Scotland and Europe, and for his service to grassroots golf.

Val McDermidDLitt 2018In recognition of a career that has combined brilliant crime writing with a lifetime commitment to a civil, equal and just society.

Professor Satoshi ŌmuraDSc 2018In recognition of his major contribution to drug discovery and global health.

Professor Sir John SavillMD 2018In recognition of his major contribution to clinical medicine.

Catherine StihlerDLitt 2018In recognition of her major contribution to the University of St Andrews.

Honorary graduates 2017

The Rt Honourable Dame Elish Angiolini LLD 2017 In recognition of her major contribution to legal matters in Scotland, public service, and higher education.

Professor Bahram BeyzaieDLitt 2017 In recognition of his major contribution to Iranian culture and the Arts.

Professor Dame Sue BlackMD 2017In recognition of her major contribution to science and humanity.

Dr John CameronLLD 2017 In recognition of his leadership in the many fields of endeavour in which he is involved.

Mr Clement Mubanga ChilesheLLD 2017 In recognition of his major contribution to the enhancement of the quality of life of young people through sport.

Professor Anthony CohenDSc 2017 In recognition of his major contribution to Scottish academic and intellectual life, for his pioneering work in the anthropology of the UK, for his leadership of Queen Margaret University as its inaugural Principal.

Aileen ColfordMA 2017In recognition of her exemplary service and dedication to the University of St Andrews and its graduates.

Professor Laura Beatriz Esquivel ValdésDLitt 2017 In recognition of her extraordinary contribution to world literature and Mexican culture.

Professor Michael FergusonDSc 2017In recognition of his major contribution to fighting neglected diseases, establishing world-class interdisciplinary research facilities, and helping establish our sister institution, the University of Dundee’s, School of Life Sciences.

Dr Richard HollowayDLitt 2017 In recognition of his major contributions to literature, public life and ethical debate.

Donna Ross JamesMA 2017In recognition of her exemplary service and dedication to the University of St Andrews and its graduates.

Professor Michael KleinDSc 2017 In recognition of his major contribution to computational chemistry and to scientific computing.

Professor Malcolm LongairDSc 2017 In recognition of his contributions to astrophysics, to Scottish science and to the public understanding of science.

Mr Donald MacleodDMus 2017 In recognition of his major contribution to broadcasting and classical music.

Mr David NottMD 2017 In recognition of his major contribution to humanitarian medicine and surgery.

Mr Michael PalinDSc 2017 In recognition of his major contribution to the public understanding of contemporary geographical issues and his notable service to the development of the discipline of geography in UK secondary and tertiary education (and a bit of writing and acting along the way!).

Professor Roger W SmithDLitt 2017In recognition of a distinguished scholar and his major contribution to genocide studies.

Honorary graduates 2016

Professor Jean BeggsDSc 2016In recognition of her major contributions to science, her pioneering role as a mentor and a servant of the scientific community.

Sir Ewan BrownLLD 2016In recognition of his inspirational and transformational commitment to Scottish public life, to the Scottish arts community and this University.

Professor Rita ColwellDSc 2016In recognition of her major contribution to science and science policy.

Professor John DudleyDSc 2016In recognition of his major contribution to the physics of light.

Professor Neil GaimanDLitt 2016In recognition of his major contribution to storytelling in many genres, his work in promoting reading, the life of the imagination, and of shared intellectual friendship.

Professor Sir Geoffrey LloydDLitt 2016In recognition of his extraordinary achievements in advancing our understanding of ancient cultures and of their continuing significance for the modern world.

Professor Louise RichardsonDLitt 2016In recognition of her major contribution to insubordination, obstinance, and all that makes a St Andrean.

Professor Emma RothschildDLitt 2016In recognition of her major contribution to intellectual history and economic thought

Professor Peter SarnakDSc 2016In recognition of his ground-breaking work on analytic number theory.

Professor Herman Van RompuyLLD 2016In recognition of a life dedicated to public service and his commitment to European peace.

Honorary graduates 2015

Professor the Right Honourable Sir David EdwardLLD 2015In recognition of his major and imaginative contributions to the law and politics of Scotland, the United Kingdom and Europe.

Vicky FeatherstoneDLitt 2015In recognition of her major contribution to British theatre, and her creation of a National Theatre for Scotland.

Professor Cheryl Elisabeth PraegerDSc 2015In recognition of her major contribution to mathematics.

Professor Robert O KeohaneDLitt 2015In recognition of his outstanding contributions to political science and international studies, over nearly 50 years, and in the confident expectation of many more still to come.

Professor Nannerl O KeohaneDLitt 2015In recognition of her major contribution to scholarship and to leadership in higher education.

Professor Herbert RoeskyDSc 2015In recognition of his major contributions to chemistry.

Dr Vinton CerfDSc 2015In recognition of his major contribution to the creation and ongoing development of the internet for everyone.

Anselm KieferDLitt 2015In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the world of the arts.

Sir Nicholas PennyDLitt 2015In recognition of his major contribution to the history and custodianship of art.

Alice-Mary TalbotDLitt 2015In recognition of her major contributions to Byzantine history and literature.

Sir John SkehelDSc 2015In recognition of his truly pioneering work on the molecular mechanisms of influenza virus entry into cells.

Professor Robert WebsterDSc 2015In recognition of his major contribution to the understanding of the origin, ecology and control of the influenza virus.

Professor Jean LaveDLitt 2015In recognition of her influential and illustrious work as an anthropologist.

Professor Alexander McCall SmithDLitt 2015In recognition of his major contribution to medical science, literature and law.

Professor Dana ScottDSc 2014In recognition of his seminal contributions to the discipline of computer science.

Professor Peter HiggsDSc 2014 In recognition of his extraordinary contribution to physics.

Professor Peter Robert Lamont BrownDLitt 2014In recognition of his work and his life as an exemplary historian.

Professor Gayatri Chakravorty SpivacDLitt 2014In recognition of her major contribution to the arts and humanities.

Lyse Doucet LLD 2014In recognition of her outstanding contribution to international journalism.

Professor Silvia Gherardi DLitt 2014In recognition of her major contributions to Sociology and Organisation Studies.

Sir John Eliot GardinerDMus 2014In recognition of his major contribution to the art, scholarship and public appreciation of music.

Professor Dusa McDuffDSc 2014In recognition of her major contribution to mathematics and especially her work on symplectic geometry.

Professor Bernard SilvermanDSc 2014In recognition of his major contribution to statistics.

John Carnochan LLD 2014 In recognition of his major contribution to violence prevention policy, practice and advocacy.

Bunny ChristieDLitt 2014In recognition of her achievements and her contribution to British theatre.

Professor Anne CarsonDLitt 2014In recognition of her major contribution to Classics and poetry.

Professor John WallaceDMus 2014In recognition of his major contributions to the performance, scholarship and teaching of music.

Honorary graduates 2013

Professor Christopher BrownDLitt 2013 In recognition of his outstanding contribution to British cultural life and to scholarship.

Terry JonesDLitt 2013 In recognition of his major contribution to the public understanding of mediaeval history and literature, and to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Professor Richard SchrockDSc 2013 In recognition of his outstanding contributions to chemistry, especially his work on alkene metathesis.

Katharine GraingerLLD 2013 In recognition of her outstanding athletic achievements as six times World Champion and medallist at four consecutive Olympics culminating in gold at London 2012.

Professor Mary McAleeseLLD 2013 In recognition of her major contribution to many fields, including law, academia and politics.

Harry BensonDLitt 2013 In recognition of his countless achievements as a photographer.

Sir Jonathan MillsDLitt 2013 In recognition of his major contribution to culture, music and the arts.

Dr Ian JohnstonDSc 2013 In recognition of his outstanding work in neurosurgery and his major contribution to scholarship.

Professor Natalie Zemon DavisDLitt 2013 In recognition of her major contribution to the study of History.

Professor The Lord OxburghDSc 2013 In recognition of his major contributions not only to science but also to public life and business.

Professor Dame Marilyn StrathernDLitt 2013 In recognition of her outstanding contribution to scholarship and to public policy and practice.

Professor Persi DiaconisDSc 2013 In recognition of his major contributions to mathematics and statistics, and, above all, for having made and taught the choice for magical mathematics over mathematical magic.

Professor Eon Nigel HarrisLLD 2013 In recognition of his major contribution to medicine and for his imaginative leadership of the University of the West Indies.

Professor Judith ButlerDLitt 2013 In recognition of her contributions to philosophy, psychoanalysis and gay and lesbian studies.

The Rt Revd Lord Williams of OystermouthDD 2013 In recognition of his unquantifiable contribution to the church, to the academy and, indeed, to society at large.

Dr Jane GoodallDD 2013 In recognition of her major contributions to science and conservation.

Professor Mary BeardDLitt 2013 In recognition of her major contributions to the study of classical history and to the public understanding of classics.

Professor Sir Timothy Berners-LeeDSc 2013 In recognition of his invention of the World Wide Web.

Revd Professor Diarmaid MacCullochDLitt 2013 In recognition of his services to scholarship, and the public understanding of history.

Sir Timothy GowersDSc 2013 In recognition of his major contributions to mathematics and its exposition.

Professor Dame Gillian BeerDLitt 2013 In recognition of her outstanding contribution to scholarship.

Professor C N R RaoDSc 2013 In recognition of the greatness of his contribution to the science of solids.

Professor Nancy CartwrightDLitt 2013 In recognition of her major contribution to Philosophy of Science.

Professor Sir Michael RutterDSc 2013 In recognition of his major contribution to child psychiatry and our understanding of the influences that shape who we are.

The Honorable Hillary Rodham ClintonLLD 2013 In recognition of four decades of inspirational leadership, for advancing the cause of women and children everywhere, for improving the lives of millions of people, for bringing closer the day when the glass ceiling is finally shattered.

Roger GiffordLLD 2013 In recognition of his major contribution to banking, the public service of the City and educational and musical charities.

Professor Eric PriestDSc 2013 In recognition of his major contribution to solar physics.

Honorary graduates 2012

Professor Noam ChomskyDLitt 2012 In recognition of his major contribution both to science and to society.

Dame Antonia S ByattDLitt 2012 In recognition of her major contribution to the fields of literature and literary criticism.

Professor Stanley HoffmannDLitt 2012 In recognition of his major contribution to Humanistic learning in many fields.

Professor Dr Michele ParrinelloDSc 2012 In recognition of his major contribution to theoretical and computational chemistry.

Professor Paul MuldoonDLitt 2012 In recognition of his remarkable contribution to the poetry of the English language.

Professor Elaine ShowalterDLitt 2012 In recognition of her significant contribution to academic and cultural life and criticism.

Justice Edwin CameronLLD 2012 In recognition of his major contribution to the field of international human rights law, advocacy for AIDS awareness as well as the struggle against apartheid.

A L KennedyDLitt 2012 In recognition of her signal contribution to the art of fiction.

Jesse Huntley AusubelDLitt 2012 In recognition of his major contribution to the science and diplomacy of sustainable development.

Professor Sir John Meurig ThomasDSc 2012 In recognition of his major contribution to physical chemistry and catalysis.

Dr Simon SinghDSc 2012 In recognition of his major contribution to science communication, education and academic freedom.

Dame Majorie ScardinoLLD 2012 In recognition of her major contribution to business and to educational publishing.

Professor Myles BurnyeatDLitt 2012 In recognition of his superb intellectual leadership in the history of philosophy.

Professor Iain D CampbellDSc 2012 In recognition of his major contribution to science.

Murray Grigor DLitt 2012 In recognition of his major contribution to the art of documentary film making.

Candia McWilliamDLitt 2012 In recognition of her major contribution to the art of literature.

Honorary graduates 2011

Karen ArmstrongDLitt 2011 In recognition of her major contribution to the field of religious studies and theology.

Sir David AttenboroughDSc 2011 In recognition of his major contribution as a "story teller", illuminating the natural world to all.

Professor James BestMD 2011 In recognition of his major contribution to medicine and in particular to the branch of diabetes and metabolism.

Professor Anthony CheethamDSc 2011 In recognition of his major contribution to materials chemistry.

Kevin DunionLLD 2011 In recognition of his support of the University of St Andrews student community.

Justice Richard GoldstoneLLD 2011 In recognition of his major contribution to the global rule of law, democracy, and human rights.

Sir Peter LamplDSc 2011 In recognition of his major contribution to education.

Les MurrayDLitt 2011 In recognition of his remarkable contribution to the poetry of the English language.

Dr Christiane Nusslein-VolhardDSc 2011 In recognition of her major contribution to understanding developmental biology.

Sir Steve RedgraveLLD 2011 In recognition of his outstanding achievements in the field of rowing and his charity work.

Alastair ReidDLitt 2011 In recognition of his accomplishments in the fields of poetry and literature.

Dame Stephanie ShirleyLLD 2011 In recognition of her significant contribution to the IT sector, autism support and philanthropy.

Ali SmithDLitt 2011 In recognition of her major contribution to the field of writing.

Professor Peter van IngwagenDD 2011 In recognition of his immense contribution to the fields of philosophy, metaphysics and philosophical theology.

Honorary graduates 2010

Kathryn (Kate) AdieLLD 2010 In recognition of her major contribution to British and international journalism.

Doug AllanDSc 2010In recognition of his major contribution to natural history through still and video photography.

Emeritus Professor John W AllenDSc 2010In recognition of his major contribution to scientific research and its application.

Emeritus Professor Ian W CampbellMD 2010In recognition of his major contribution to the Art and Science of Medicine.

Professor Robert DarntonLLD 2010In recognition of his major contribution to scholarship and public affairs.

Padraig HarringtonLLD 2010In recognition of his contributions to sport and to charity.

Professor Kay Redfield JamisonDLitt 2010In recognition of her major contribution to scientific, medical and literary writing.

Irene KhanLLD 2010In recognition of her major contribution to human rights, global justice and equality.

Richard LongDLitt 2010In recognition of his major contribution to the visual arts.

Mohsen MakhmalbafDLitt 2010In recognition of his major contribution to Iranian film-making.

The Baroness Manningham-BullerLLD 2010In recognition of her major contribution to international peace and security.

Arnold PalmerLLD 2010In recognition of his major contribution to the sport of golf.

Dr Arvo PartDMus 2010In recognition of his major contribution to the art of music.

Dame Mary PetersLLD 2010In recognition of her major contribution to British sport.

Johann RupertLLD 2010In recognition of his many outstanding contributions to sport and, particularly in his most generous promotion and sponsorship of golf.

Professor Sir Fraser StoddartDSc 2010In recognition of his major contributions to Chemistry.

Tom WatsonLLD 2010In recognition of his exceptional commitment, steadfast contribution and his triumphs within the sport of golf.

Honorary graduates 2009

Stephen DonaldsonDLitt 2009 In recognition of his exceptional contribution to literature.

Professor Douglas DunnDLitt 2009 In recognition of his major contribution to poetry.

Vartan GregorianDLitt 2009 In recognition of his major contributions to education, scholarship, academic leadership and public benefaction.

Sir (Christopher) Chris HoyDSc 2009 In recognition of his major contribution to the sport of cycling.

Sir Anthony LeggettDSc 2009 In recognition of his major contribution to theoretical physics and international science.

Margaret MarshallDMus 2009 In recognition of her major contribution to music.

Professor David PinesDSc 2009 In recognition of his major contributions to theoretical physics and international science.

Meraia Taufa VakataleDLitt 2009 In recognition of her major contribution to the cause of Pacific women.

Jacqui WoodLLD 2009 In recognition of her major contribution to the administration of justice and to medical charities.

The Rt Rev Dr Nicholas Thomas WrightDD 2009 In recognition of his career-long commitment to holding the life of the academy and the Church together.

Honorary graduates 2008

Dr Simon CampbellDSc 2008In recognition of his major contribution to the discovery of new medicines, promoting health care in the developing World and promoting the chemical sciences.

Major General George CowanMD 2008In recognition of his contributions to military medicine and medical education.

Professor Angus J DeatonDLitt 2008In recognition of his many and major contributions to economics and its application.

Dame Judi DenchDLitt 2008In recognition of her contribution to the performing arts, and for her exceptional ability to access and interpret of the extremes of human emotion as portrayed in an enormously diverse variety of great dramatic and screen writing.

Professor René GirardDLitt 2008In recognition of his eminent contribution to many disciplines of thought and to human selfunderstanding in the twenty-first century.

Adam HochschildDLitt 2008 In recognition of his major contribution to scholarship, journalism and writing.

Helena Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The ShawsLLD 2008 In recognition of her major contribution as a lawyer, and as a campaigner for human rights and civil liberties.

Dr Brian LangLLD 2008 In recognition of his contribution to the University of St Andrews.

Henning MankellDLitt 2008 In recognition of his major contribution to literature, and to the practical exercise of conscience.

Bridget M McConnellDLitt 2008 In recognition of her commitment to the arts, culture and sport in Scotland, and her work towards ensuring that the cultural wealth of the nation is available not just to some, but to all of its citizens.

George MonbiotDSc 2008 In recognition of his major contributions to environmental sustainability and global justice issues.

Professor Sir Kenneth MurrayDSc 2008 In recognition of his major contribution to the biosciences.

Simon PepperLLD 2008 In recognition of his outstanding achievements on environment and student issues, both nationally and within the walls of St Andrews.

Renee PowellLLD 2008 In recognition of her major contributions to golf and to combating inequality.

Barbara RaeDLitt 2008 In recognition of her major contribution to the visual arts.

Professor Dame Nancy RothwellDSc 2008 In recognition of her major contributions to Science, to Science Communication and her academic leadership.

Sir (John) Jackie StewartDSc 2008 In recognition of his outstanding achievements as a champion - of shooting, motor racing and dyslexia.

Professor Sir Nicholas WrightMD 2008 In recognition of his major contributions to medicine.